New Hartford Chef Matt Abdoo Scores Touchdown on Today Show

Tomato pie got a little face-time Thursday morning on national TV.

In advance of Sunday night's Giants-Cowboys game on NBC, Central New York native and New York City chef Matt Abdoo represented the Empire State on the Today Show and squared off against a Dallas chef in a feature called "Today Food Loves Football." Abdoo not only featured some tomato pie in his game-day menu spread, but gave a shout-out to the people of Utica.

Abdoo told host Carson Daly all about his formative years in Central New York, described tomato pie, and said: "What's up, Uticans?" See the whole segment on the Today Show's site.

Abdoo graduated from New Hartford High School in 1988, then SUNY Geneseo, and the Culinary Institute of America.

He's gone on to food greatness in New York City as the executive chef at Pig Beach and Pig Bleecker, bringing a little taste of CNY barbecue to the Big Apple.

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